ISMP STAFF

Executive Staff

Michael Cohen, RPh, MS, ScD, is president of The Institute for Safe Medication Practices, a non-profit healthcare organization that specializes in understanding the causes of medication errors and providing error-reduction strategies to the healthcare community, policy makers, and the public. He is editor of the textbook, Medication Errors (2007 American Pharmaceutical Association) and serves as co-editor of the ISMP Medication Safety Alert! publications that reach over 2 million health  professionals and consumers in the US, as well as regulatory authorities and others in over 30 foreign countries.  Dr. Cohen is a member of the Sentinel Event Advisory Group for the Joint Commission and served recently as a member of the Committee on Identifying and Preventing Medication Errors, Institute of Medicine. He is also a member of the National Quality Forum’s Voluntary Consensus Standards Maintenance Committee (CSMC) on Safe Practices and serves as a consultant to the FDA Drug Safety and Risk Management Committee. In 2005 he was recognized as a MacArthur Fellow by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

Allen Vaida previously served as director of pharmacy, assistant vice president and director of pharmacy, vice president of clinical operations, and chief operating officer at Mercy Suburban Hospital in Norristown, PA. He has served on the boards of several healthcare organizations, including as a trustee for ISMP from its incorporation as a nonprofit organization in 1994 until his employment at ISMP in 2000. Dr. Vaida served on the United States Pharmacopeia's Safe Medication Use Expert Committee from 2000 through 2005 and is currently a member of the advisory board for the Maryland Patient Safety Center. He also is a clinical assistant professor at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, adjunct assistant professor at Temple University School of Pharmacy, adjunct associate professor for the Centers for Heath Policy and Primary Care and Outcomes Research at Stanford University and Stanford University School of Medicine, and adjunct faculty for the Executive Patient Safety Fellowship offered through Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Vaida received a BS in Biology from the University of Scranton, a BS in Pharmacy from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science, and a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Minnesota.

Hedy Cohen has more than 18 years of clinical nursing background in critical care and nursing management. She is a frequent speaker on current issues in medication safety and has authored numerous articles on improving the medication use process. She also edits ISMP's monthly newsletter for nurses, Nurse Advise-ERR; has co-authored a handbook on high-alert drugs; and is on the national advisory boards for Nursing Advance and Davis's Drug Guide for Nurses. She is an adjunct assistant professor at Temple University School of Pharmacy, a faculty fellow for the executive patient safety fellowship offered through the Virginia Commonwealth University and a Senior Scholar at the Department of Health Policy at Jefferson Medical College. Ms. Cohen received a BSN from LaSalle University, a MS in Health Systems Administration from the Rochester Institute for Technology, and is presently doing doctoral work in health policy at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia.

Prior to joining ISMP, Judy Smetzer served as associate vice president at St. Luke's Quakertown Hospital in Quakertown, PA. During her 30-year career, Ms. Smetzer has advanced from a staff nurse to various management positions, increasingly focusing on quality improvement and risk management. She has served as a risk management consultant for a long-term and community-based healthcare organizations, published many articles on medication error prevention in peer-reviewed journals, and is a contributing author of the handbook Mosby’s Nursing PDQ for Medication Safety. Ms. Smetzer serves as an author and editor of ISMP’s four newsletters for acute care providers, nurses, ambulatory/community care providers, and consumers. She also is an adjunct assistant professor at Temple University School of Pharmacy, teaching a course on medication error surveillance and control planning. Ms. Smetzer received a BSN from Cedar Crest College.

Before joining ISMP, Susan spent over 20 years in the acute care setting, as the Director for Critical Care and Emergency Services then as the Director for Hospital-wide Quality Improvement, Risk Management, and Education. Since 2000, Susan has directed and performed onsite medication safety risk assessments and root cause analyses for hospitals and healthcare facilities throughout the US and Canada. She frequently participates in the investigation of medication safety issues specific to adult populations; specifically around oncology and critical care/emergency care practice. Susan serves as part-time faculty in the Temple University School of Pharmacy, and at Virginia Commonwealth University in their Executive Patient Safety Fellowship Program. She is the immediate past chairperson of the Emergency Nurses Association’s (ENA’s) Patient Safety Committee, and their LUNAR III research group. She also is the author and section editor of Danger Zone, which is a regular column on medication safety in the Journal of Emergency Nursing. Susan graduated with honors from Villanova University, is a member of the American Association of Hospital Risk Managers (ASHRM), Sigma Theta Tau International, and the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Russ Jenkins was previously director of respiratory therapy at St. Luke's Quakertown Hospital in Quakertown, PA, where he also served as chairman of the pharmacy and therapeutics committee. In addition, he was affiliated with Grand View Hospital in Sellersville, PA, and the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA. In the past, Dr. Jenkins has served as clinical professor of medicine at Hahnemann Hospital and Temple University School of Medicine, clinical associate professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and clinical associate professor at St. Francis de Sales University. He was president and a founding member of Quaker Pointe PHO. Dr. Jenkins received a MD from Temple University and is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Healthcare Professional Staff

Lauren J. Denney RN, MSN, CNA, BC
Medication Safety Specialist

Lauren Denney joined the staff of ISMP in June 2008, bringing with her 29 years of nursing experience in the acute care hospital setting.  Prior to joining ISMP, Lauren was the Director of Education and Professional Practice at University Medical Center at Princeton/Princeton HealthCare System in Princeton, New Jersey.  In her 19 years in this position, she had responsibility for the overall nursing orientation and continuing education programs, as well as patient care policy and procedure development.  She also participated extensively in system-wide safety initiatives and preparation for regulatory surveys.  At ISMP, Lauren consults with hospitals and health systems across the country, participating in proactive risk assessments related to medication safety.  Lauren received a BSN and Masters in Nursing Administration from Villanova University College of Nursing and is ANCC certified in both Nursing Administration and Nursing Professional Development.  Lauren is also a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.

Prior to joining ISMP, Matt was employed in the acute care setting for over 27 years, most recently as director of pharmacy and materials management and Institutional Review Board chairman.  In addition to performing onsite medication safety risk assessments and speaking about medication safety in hospitals throughout the United States, Matt has created program tools and content for the Regional Medication Safety Program for Hospitals, a collaborative program with the Health Care Improvement Foundation of the Delaware Valley Healthcare Council and ECRI Institute and has co-created the Rural Hospital Medication Safety Connections Program.  Matt serves as part-time faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University in their Executive Patient Safety Fellowship Program.  Matt received his BS in Pharmacy and MS in Hospital Pharmacy Administration from Temple University and has published numerous articles in the pharmacy and medical literature.

Michael J. Gaunt, PharmD
Medication Safety Analyst
Editor, ISMP Medication Safety Alert! Community/Ambulatory Care Edition

Michael Gaunt coordinates ISMP's role in the USP-ISMP Medication Errors Reporting Program (MERP), a confidential national voluntary medication error reporting program. He also serves as the editor of the monthly ISMP Medication Safety Alert! Community/Ambulatory Care Edition newsletter. Dr. Gaunt is a Clinical Analyst for the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Reporting System (PA-PSRS), a statewide adverse event and near miss reporting system. He has authored and reviewed articles for the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Advisory and has published articles in the pharmacy literature, including regular columns in Pharmacy Times and America’s Pharmacist. Dr. Gaunt represents ISMP on the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention (NCC MERP). He is a preceptor for Doctor of Pharmacy candidates from Temple University School of Pharmacy. Dr. Gaunt has worked in patient care positions in outpatient and inpatient settings at Madison Center and Hospital, a community mental health center in South Bend, IN. His past pharmacy experience primarily consists of work in retail community pharmacy. Dr. Gaunt received a BA in History from the University of Notre Dame and a Doctor of Pharmacy with a Certificate in Drug Safety from Temple University.

Matthew Grissinger, RPh, FASCP
Director, Error Reporting Programs

Stuart Levine, PharmD is the Informatics Specialist at ISMP.  Stuart’s primary role is promoting medication safety through the safe use of electronic technologies. Stuart also serves as an in-house resource for medication safety for pediatric and neonatal patients based on his 25 years as the director of pharmacy services at the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children. Finally he is part of the consulting service at ISMP assisting in reviewing the medication use process in hospitals around the country. Prior to joining ISMP Stuart was a member of the ISMP board of trustees, a member of the consulting staff and a national lecturer on medication safety.  He has served as both member and officer of local pharmacy organization as well as member and president of the Delaware State Board of Pharmacy.  Nationally Stuart has been a member of the board of the Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group as well as chief operating officer.  He received his bachelor of pharmacy degree from Temple University and his PharmD from the University of Kentucky.

Michelle Mandrack consults with hospitals and health systems around the country, performing proactive risk assessments and root cause analysis of medication-use systems. She has worked in a variety of clinical settings during her 21 years in acute care nursing. Prior to joining ISMP, Ms. Mandrack served as Director of Nursing Services at Mercy Suburban Hospital in Norristown, PA. She is an adjunct assistant professor in the Temple University School of Pharmacy and adjunct faculty for the Executive Patient Safety Fellowship offered through Virginia Commonwealth University. She also lectures to nursing programs on medication safety topics and edits ISMP’s nursing newsletter, Nurse Advise-ERR. Ms. Mandrack received a BSN from Thomas Jefferson University and is presently doing post-graduate work in nursing at Drexel University.

Ann D. Shastay, RN, MSN, AOCN
Managing Editor

Ann Shastay joined the staff of ISMP in July 2008, bringing with her 20 years of oncology nursing experience in both the acute care and outpatient office/clinic settings.  Prior to joining ISMP, Ann worked for 10 years at Holy Redeemer Hospital in Meadowbrook, PA where she was the Director of the Bott Cancer Center and also managed their inpatient oncology unit.  Prior to attaining that position, she worked as an inpatient Clinical Nurse Specialist educating nurses, developing competency programs, writing and reviewing policies and procedures, serving on various committees, presenting community outreach programs and developing numerous patient education materials.  Through the Oncology Nursing Society, Ann is trained to present the two-day ONS Chemotherapy and Biotherapy Course which educates nurses on safe chemotherapy administration practices.  Ann received both her BSN and Masters of Science in Nursing from Widener University, Chester, PA.  Ann also maintains her Advanced Oncology Certification (AOCN) through the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC).

ISMP Safe Medication Management Fellow

Barbara received her BSN from Emory University and a MS in Nursing Leadership of Health Care Systems from Regis University.  She has an extensive background in perinatal nursing and clinical performance improvement and has practiced in a variety of healthcare settings in the southeastern U.S.  Barbara is certified in inpatient obstetrical nursing with an added certificate of qualification in electronic fetal monitoring. 

OTHER STAFF

Renee Brehio, MA
Public and Media Relations

Renee Brehio manages ISMP’s public relations, media and marketing activities, including the Institute’s online press room. Ms. Brehio has more than 12 years of experience in healthcare communications, including planning and implementing large-scale public education campaigns. She has worked for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, several healthcare nonprofit associations, and one of the world’s largest public relations agencies. Medical issues and conditions that she has helped promote better awareness of include AIDS/HIV, breast and cervical cancer, and medication errors. Ms. Brehio earned her BA and MA degrees in English and Communications from Georgetown University.

Rachel Cohen, MS, RD
Business Manager and Project Coordinator

Thomas J. Moore
Senior Scientist, Drug Safety and Policy

Med-E.R.R.S. STAFF

Med-E.R.R.S. is a for-profit, wholly-owned subsidiary of ISMP dedicated to medication error education and prevention. Med-E.R.R.S. works with the pharmaceutical industry to test labels, packaging and nomenclature for safety.

• Susan M. Proulx, PharmD
• Nancy J. Globus, PharmD
• Marci Lee, PharmD
• Kristine Hubert Needleman, RPh
• Steph DeGraw
• Michael J. Gorham